Digital Camera Master

Digital cameras may be small and compact, but they’re often accompanied by just as much accessory junk as film cameras.

Here’s a pre-trip checklist:

1. Batteries.
The laws of photography dictate that you’ll run out of juice just when the perfect shot appears. If your camera comes with a rechargeable battery, consider buying a second one. Charge both batteries every night, and take them both with you during the day. If your camera accepts AA-type batteries, you have much more flexibility. Bring a set of NiMH rechargeables and charger. Also pack an emergency set of disposables, like alkaline AAs or Duracell CRV3 lithium disposables, if your camera accepts them.

2. Memory cards.
Nobody ever said, “Oh, I wish I’d bought a smaller memory card.” You’ll be grateful for every last megabyte. As a rule of thumb, figure that you’ll keep 50 shots a day (not including the ones that you delete off the camera). If you have a 4-megapixel camera, a 128 MB card may be enough for one day of shooting. If you brought a laptop on the trip, you can rush back to the hotel room each night and offload the pictures, freeing up the card for the next day’s shooting. If you don’t take a laptop, buy a much bigger memory card (or several). It’s generally cheaper to buy two 256 MB cards than one 512 MB card, but shop around to get the best deal possible. If you plan to use the movie mode to capture video snippets of your adventures, then add one or two 1 GB cards to your kit. Until recently, this option was insanely expensive. But memory-card prices are well below nosebleed territory these days; you can buy 1 GB cards for less than $75.

3. Camera bag.
If your camera didn’t come with a case, get one for it. It not only protects your camera (even if it’s a compact model with a self-closing lens cover), but it keeps all your batteries, cards, and cables together. If you can find a camera bag that doesn’t look like a camera bag, it’s less likely to be ripped off. An insulated beverage bag does nicely, for example.

4. Tripod.
Nobody likes to lug a tripod across Europeor across town, for that matter. But if you’re a serious photographer, or aspire to be one, you’ll occasionally need a way to steady your camera. A miniature tabletop tripod like the Ultra-Pod 2 is an ideal compromise. It weighs only four ounces, costs $22, and provides solid support for your camera in a variety of situations. (A quick Web search should turn up a mail-order company that carries it.)

5. Weatherproofing.
Keep a couple of plastic bags tucked in your carrying case for use in bad weather. Digital cameras hate water, but some of nature’s most dramatic shows occur at the beginning and end of storms.

6. Lens cloth.
Microfiber lens cloths are light, inexpensive (about $5), and easy to pack. They’re much better than your t-shirt tail for keeping your optics sparkling clean.

7, Small flashlight.
Don’t risk losing a great night shot just because you can’t read your camera’s controls. Pack a small flashlight to help you work in dim lighting situations.